A woman says a masseur groped and kissed her on a massage table earlier this year, and as she fled in distress other staff offered her a discounted rate.
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But Xishan Liu's lawyer suggested her client's accuser, who cannot be named, lied about the alleged incident and had previously ''overstated'' events to police.
Liu has pleaded not guilty in the ACT Magistrates Court to committing an act of indecency on the customer without her consent, or being reckless as to whether consent was given.
The alleged victim told Magistrate Peter Dingwall yesterday she went to the therapeutic Chinese massage parlour in Woden in March after suffering an injury in a car accident.
The woman, who gave evidence by videolink, said Liu pulled hard on her buttocks during the massage.
She alleged the 35-year-old then squeezed her breast hard and kissed her before she managed to get up and leave the cubicle.
The woman said one or two people at the reception saw her coming out distressed, spoke to the masseur in another language and said she would only be charged $20.
But during cross- examination, defence lawyer Rachel Bird suggested the witness had a history of overstating events to police. The lawyer pointed to an incident several years ago when the woman made a complaint to police about an alleged assault.
Ms Bird suggested no charges were laid in relation to the incident because her statement to police was not backed up by CCTV footage.
The defence also argued the woman had given varying versions of events to the police, to other witnesses and to the court.
The witness said she complained on several occasions about the man pressing too hard on her back, but said it was the first time she had a Chinese massage.
The hearing continues today.
